What Nissan owners should know: CVT fluid and judder, timing chain noise on some engines, catalytic converter issues on older Altimas, and questions for your shop.
Nissans are common around Denver: Rogues, Altimas, Pathfinders, Frontiers, a few Zs. Most of what comes up is predictable if you know what to look for.
The CVT
Most newer Nissans use a Jatco CVT. The two things that help it most are fresh fluid and not overheating it. Nissan's fluid intervals vary by model, and a lot of shops suggest changing it more often than "lifetime" implies, especially if you tow or drive mountain passes. Use Nissan's NS-2 or NS-3 fluid as specified for your transmission. Don't let anybody put a generic fluid in it.
Symptoms of CVT trouble: shuddering when you take off, a whine, or the car going into a reduced power mode on a long climb.
Timing chains
Nissan engines generally use chains. Some, including certain QR25 4-cylinders and VQ V6s, have had chain or guide noise problems. A rattle or whine at startup is worth checking out, not ignoring.
Older Altimas and Sentras
Some older QR25 engines had pre-catalytic converter problems that could break apart and damage the engine. If you have one of those, ask a shop to look at it.
Normal stuff
Oil changes on time. Brake fluid every few years. On trucks like the Frontier and Titan, differential and transfer case fluids.
Data
No Nissan price reports yet. If you've had a CVT service or chain work done, please tell us what you paid.
Ask
- Are you using the correct NS fluid for my CVT?
- Do you check CVT fluid condition when you change it?
- Is that startup noise the chain, a guide, or something else?